For Indians, USA broke record for most student visas issued in a fiscal year in 2022

The American government has said that in 2022, its embassy and consulates in India broke their all-time record for the most number of student visas issued in a fiscal year.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on 4 January 2023 said that nearly 1.25 lakh student visas were issued in 2022. He added that the Joe Biden government is making all efforts to reduce the waiting time for a visa interview in India.

Addressing the growing concern over the backlog of visa applications from countries like India, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Wednesday that he certainly understands the frustrations of those who have to wait for a long time.

As of November 2022, the median worldwide wait time for a tourist visa (B1/B2) interview appointment was about two months, and applicants with urgent travel needs who meet certain criteria can apply for an emergency appointment, usually available within days.

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"Visa processing is recovering faster than projected and over the coming year, we expect to reach pre-pandemic processing levels," Price said.

(With PTI inputs)